Henry D. Thoreau Letter

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Special Collections, University Libraries (0434)
Newman Library
Virginia Tech
P.O. Box 90001
560 Drillfield Drive
Blacksburg, VA 24062-9001
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (540) 231-6308
Fax: (540) 231-3694
Restrictions:

The collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

This item is in the Public Domain under the laws of the United States, but a determination has not been made as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. The item may not be in the Public Domain under the laws of other countries. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials. https://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?language=en

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Henry D. Thoreau Letter, Ms1955-003, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Summary

Extent:
0.1 Cubic Feet 1 folder
Creator:
Thoreau, Henry David, 1817-1862
Abstract:
The collection consists of a letter written by Henry D. Thoreau to Mrs. Simon Brown on February 29, 1955, to discuss seeing her previously and remembering a previous visit.
Language:
The materials in the collection are in English.
Preferred citation:

Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: [identification of item], [box], [folder], Henry D. Thoreau Letter, Ms1955-003, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection consists of a letter written in 1855 by Henry David Thoreau to Mrs. Brown, possibly the wife of Simon Brown, Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts.

Transcription of the letter:

Concord Feb. 29th '55

Mrs. Brown,

Dear Madam,

Though I failed to recognise you last eve- ning in the dusky entry, I assure you that I have not forgotten a pleasant call which I made at your house some years ago.

Yrs truly Henry D. Thoreau [Please note: The date is wrong, as there was no February 29 in the year 1855, and it is likely supposed to be March 1st, 1855.]

Biographical / historical:

Born on July 12, 1817, in Concord, Massachusetts, Henry David Thoreau became a member of the transcendentalist movement as well as an important American author with works such as Walden and "On the Duty of Civil Disobedience." An ardent critic of slavery, Thoreau died on May 6, 1862.

Acquisition information:
This collection was acquired by Special Collections and University Archives as part of the Dayton M. Kohler Papers (Ms1971-002) in 1971 or 1972. It was separated from that collection between 1985 and 2001.
Processing information:

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Henry D. Thoreau Letter commenced and completed in November 2006. Additional description was added in November 2022.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Authors
Correspondence
Names:
Brown, Simon, Mrs.